The Tyler's Place Podcast

From the Master of Kadosh (May, 2008)

In the April Rite Word, I introduced my plan to present some ideas of Brother Manly P. Hall on the true Mason. There are some 10 attributes or characteristics of the true Mason as set forth by Brother Hall. The following is a brief statement of the first four.

The true disciple of ancient Masonry has given up forever the worship of personalities. With his greater insight, he realizes that all forms and their position in material affairs are of no importance to him compared to the life that is evolving within.

The true Mason is not creed-bound. He realizes with the divine illumination of his lodge that as a Mason his religion must be universal. Christ, Buddha or Mohammed, the name means little, for he recognizes only the light and not the bearer.

The true Mason must develop the powers of observation. He must seek eternally in all the manifestations of Nature for the things he has lost because he failed to see them. He must become a student of human nature and see in those around him the unfolding and varying expressions of the one connected spiritual Intelligence.

The true Mason enters his lodge with these thoughts uppermost in his mind: “How can I, as an individual, be of greater use in the Universal Plan? What can I do to be worthy to comprehend the mysteries that are unfolded here? How can I build the eyes to see the things which are concealed from those who lack spiritual understanding?”

When I first reflected on these qualities, I began a self-evaluation. Initially, the result of this examination left me feeling quite inadequate in my craftsmanship. But then I remembered something that I was first taught some 46 years ago about the practice of Freemasonry. Those many years ago, a more seasoned brother told me that my craft was a life-long adventure and that I should strive to improve myself, and my understanding of Freemasonry while always keeping in mind that I would never achieve all the light of this ancient fraternity. So, I see Brother Hall’s attributes of the true Mason as goals for all Freemasons and as we work toward these goals and assist our brothers in this endeavor we are “making good men better”. What do you think?